Friday, March 4, 2011

It's been "Birthday Alley" again and today finds us celebrating. I'm recycling the angel food cupcake pictures. My daughter baked them for my birthday awhile ago and they were so light and delicious. This little plate pattern was featured at Penny's The Comforts of Home some weeks ago now. I have two cups and saucers and I want to give them away. So if you'd like to add two tea cups and two saucers with a sweet little French Chateau graphic to your collection, just let me know. As always, this is going to end quickly (Sunday, March 6 @ 7p.m.) and it is only for those who wander in and find it. Thanks!

A happy day to you!

Edited to Add 3/6/11:

Penny at The Comforts of Home aka "The Smasher" has just won. I am finding this so funny. It was obviously meant to be. I'm looking forward to seeing what these will next look like in Blogdom. It should be great!

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Have been under the weather for two days and so had taken to my bed for the most part. (No, the echinacea couldn't hold me an entire season...blast!) John brought in the mail after coming home later in the evening last and there was something I had been waiting for. Though I had actually waited just a few days since ordering it, I've been waiting for a long while to order it.

You see, I fell in love with Lynda Naranjo's photography some years ago when I first arrived in Blogdom. This particular picture was my very favorite one so finally, at long last, having some birthday money in hand, I thought that I would treat myself to it and I'm so glad that I did. Every time I see it, I smile. It reminded me of a certain something though I just couldn't figure it out. Eventually, it came to me; it reminds me of my Great-grandmother Maude's Moncton home. It's always fun to figure something like that out. Now it's made all the more special by hanging on the wall with Maude's picture and my grandmother's. I had hoped that it might fit there right beneath the former. It won't; no matter. It's fine just where it is.

And just because I have been sleeping in my grandmother's bed since being ill, I noticed with new eyes the frame that has been there all along. Don't burst my bubble by telling me that it isn't quite perfection. I love it! It picks up the subtle colors of the photograph so very well.

Now pardon me while I go walking right through that door into a Summer Breeze as this photograph is named. Thanks, Lynda! It came through perfectly packaged and in top shape. If you'd like to visit Lynda's shop, here it is: Lynda Naranjo Photography.

Have a wonderful day and, yes, I am feeling ever so much better today.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

From time to time throughout this video, a solitary figure makes her way along. If you ever feel very small in a great big world, this is a wonderful reminder that nothing, not even yourself, can separate you from the love of God.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Now that I've got everyone interested in Alice, I'm going to drop the ball and look forward to the youngest generation. (I promise to return to Alice at some point. I do!)

My grand and I have had a "date" for a few weeks now. His little brother had been over last so he knew that his turn was coming. I'm milking this great desire to be at Nonni's house for all it's worth since I know these are fleeting times and the day is soon coming when it'll be no big deal to spend time here.

Though we played with castles, did computer games, went sliding outdoors, and read stories, his favorite part of the day was egg cracking. "Thank you, Nonni, for letting me crack the egg!" He was even willing to wear the loon apron.

Note # 6 and the folded hands while the mixer was going. This is a tip I learned at Lovella's right *here.* While you're visiting What Matters Most, perhaps you'd like to wish Lovella a very happy birthday!

Monday, February 21, 2011

I've not given much thought to profile pictures since I began blogging. I do remember using my own picture in the early days. I was so much younger then! And thinner! Then one day I began looking at my eyebrows and I took that photo off faster than one can strip off her turtleneck in a hot flash. I even posted about it way back *here.* There are some of you who'll remember...

The other day, I was looking at my Followers List and I was particularly drawn to the faces. I really enjoyed seeing each face. Now I look at my happy little list of Followers and think of it as a bouquet. I went so far as to think that God must love our faces, too, since He created so many unique ones. After all, even twins have enough differences between them to tell one from the other.

And that is how I came to put my own face back in the profile picture. Just one little problem. I can hardly stand to look at it so you may see it change over the next few days until I land on one that I can tolerate. I'm thinking of a butterfly or a pine cone or something like that. :D

Now it so happens that I do have a lovely face to share with you and it's in keeping with the theme of my sister's and my looking through old family photos. We've been able to go back through seven generations of women on my mother's side...her mother, her grandmother, her great-grandmother, and her great-great grandmother. That's five including Mother and with my generation and my daughter's generation that makes seven.

So, putting this in context now, this is my Nan's grandmother, her mother's mother. Her name is Alice. What can one tell from looking at such a sweet face? Probably not a whole lot. If I didn't know the back story, I'd think something entirely different. Sadly, I do know the story. Would you be interested to know, too?

~*~*~*~3/07/11

It may be because I'm deep into Lark Rise to Candleford and all of the story lines there and the delicious little wisdoms shared. (I just watched this episode, which explains all I'll say about that.) Whatever the reason, I've had a change of heart about Alice. It may also be that I read Cait O'Connor's poem titled Genealogy Days, which changes my perspective.

This I will say, we can never know an ancestor more than the stories that remain. A photo can not tell the story. My maternal grandmother described her maternal grandmother in such unflattering ways that I have always thought of Alice as The Wicked Stepmother in Cinderella. Now I know that she had many more layers than my own grandmother could have been aware or wished to be aware having her own sense of things. I know that Alice's husband James adored her and that he sank down to his own end pining for her. I also know that she had a voice like a lark and the neighbors loved to sit on their porches to hear Alice sing from her own. That strikes me as the better way to leave her. When I had nothing but disturbing passed-on memories, I now may replace them with

better ones. Yes, I'm going to give Alice some grace all these years later and let those nasty stories rest.

Thank you for understanding...

Edited to Add Again: I'm getting famous for these. Aunt Amelia asked me how I knew all these things and here is my answer in case anyone else was wondering.

Aunt Amelia, thank you for the question... I know so much more now because of letters. Lots and lots of letters. No, she didn't run off. Died at home in 1924 after a lovely day spent with a friend...actually collapsed at the door while saying goodbye.Yes, I have that letter from her friend to my great-grandmother describing that day. I know that James pined for her because of letters written by his sons to their sister (my great-grandmother). It's been an interesting journey through the years now let me tell you.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

My sister was home from New York for the long weekend bringing many treasures of our shared heritage. We looked at many old family photographs and we spent a lot of time looking at pictures of the lake in New Brunswick, Canada where we spent every childhood summer and many happy summer vacations until recent years.

photos taken by my talented nieces

This mosaic pretty much tells the story. There's a lot of berry picking in the summer and the making of good things to eat with said berries. Yes, we train chipmunks — doesn't everyone? We sail, walk the tracks, swim, play cards, and enjoy the wild flowers. Since this spot is six miles from the nearest paved road and lacks many of the amenities of polite society, we pay careful attention to the signs.

Another of the treasures was a book of poems written by a family friend who also called this place her summer home. I share her poem "Blessings" with you.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

It's a strange thing to do, almost surreal, this kind of shopping. Sis and I made a few decisions a month ago...the company, the style, the price, but we wanted something special. We want to include my mother's name and dates, of course, her favorite psalm, and her favorite spot on this earth.

We recently found a letter from my mother to hers. It was written after my parents were married, but before my grandmother had remarried. In it my mother said, "Say, Mom, we were talking and would hate to see the cottage sold. If there's any way that we can help, we want to so that it won't have to be." My grandmother would often tell the story of how my mother loved the lake and loved the cottage and would say that she didn't care if she had anything as long as she could have that. My mother was looking forward to spending time there this summer. She was last there in 2008 because of her illness.

So this morning we have been looking at pictures of the lake and I do believe that we've settled on this one. It will be etched upon her stone much like a pencil sketch. I think that she would have approved.

Comments are closed because this is a journal entry sort of post for remembering...

Friday, February 18, 2011

What a nice spot of color my little bucket of Campanula provides on such a rainy, gray day.

It's all thanks to my sister who arrived home with gifts—the plant and a can of peppermint hot chocolate from Trader Joe's. Hmmm, the peppermint hot chocolate is very tasty.

I'm off to create a runner for a fussy little spot. Catch you later...

ETA: Whoops! Forgot to mention one little thing. How does this background look to you? I read somewhere that wide three column backgrounds worked well with stretch minima templates. I was getting so tired of the bland stuff available for stretch minima. It looks great on my screen, though I'm learning that what looks fine here may not look so fine on another's computer.

ETA Again:

﻿

Thanks for the input...as you can see, the post text is all on the background in my world. Not so for the sidebar, but not completely awful. I will be going back to the drawing board tomorrow. I'll just enjoy it for myself today. Shoot! Shoot! Shoot! Hope that some of the background sites will pick up doing more minima stretch backgrounds. ﻿Most of the ones I have found are just too blah. Yes, Aunt Amelia, I know not to mess with the template. I like minima stretch just fine and will use a plain background before switching it. Again, thanks for telling me the truth!! :D

NOT AGAIN! Say, does this new spacing for text work?

NOT AGAIN again...

I've learned a few things while playing today. It's all about screen resolution, Baby. The easy way to control screen resolution is to press the Ctrl button while rolling the little gizmo on top of one's mouse. I'll be able to enjoy anyone's blog knowing this. If words spill over on the side, I'll rein them in. If font is too small, I'll increase it. Phew! I hope that I've found a background that isn't too obtrusive and still fills my need for change. Thanks for the help!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Did you have a good ♥Valentine's Day♥? I'm going to ask the most impertinent question in a line or two. Prepare yourself! My sister wrote me an email on Valentine's Day. She shared that her husband gave her a surprise gift—a Pandora bracelet. When I wrote back, I shared that mine had also given me a surprise gift—three peanut butter crackers and a glass of milk. So here's the question: did you have more of a bracelet kind of day or a peanut butter cracker kind of day? :D

We enjoyed a quiet Valentine's with a nice dinner of pork roast, baked potatoes, and roasted asparagus. I made whoopie pies with heart shape cut-outs for the kids and called it good. That we ourselves ate too many whoopie pies...

Just this morning, I finished the last of the letters to be written. Some days were simply too difficult to sit down to the task. Today, having safely passed the one-month mark, it seemed as if I could do it. It is one of those tasks that must be done, that one feels better for having done, and that is meaningful for both the writer and the receiver. Anyway, it is a task accomplished and one that leaves me feeling brighter for it.

I'm still in Lark Rise or Candleford as the case may be. My understanding is that season 4 is the end. What a shame! How ridiculous to think that the stories are all told. Stories are never all told. If it mattered at all, I would write to the producers and writers and tell them that they are more than equal to the task and that this program provides so many with great enjoyment, even comfort. In this country, excellent programs go on for ten years without the bat of an eye. Four? A mere four? Pah!

Prattle, ramble, blather on is what I'm reduced to; I do hope that I can do better soon. Until then, create a wonderful day!

Sunday, February 13, 2011

My own life is a lot more messy than thrilling right now. As you keep reminding me, it's to be expected. Here's to a brighter day and a better week!

My mother's favorite Psalm was/is 139; mine is Psalm 100.

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Last week, it was Downton Abbey, this it's Lark Rise to Candleford. (And for several more weeks to come, I'm sure.) I heard about this BBC program all over Blogdom, but didn't pay a lot of attention until reading more about it at the blog I mentioned on the Downton Abbey post. There I found out that I could watch all episodes on You Tube. (If you click on *this,* it will take you to Season 1, episode 1, part 1.) I have happily given myself over to it. I'm somewhere in Season Two and rapidly heading for Season Three.

This is because sometimes You Tube skips an episode or six if one is not really careful so I wound up missing a few in the beginning of the second season and must retrace my steps. It was a happy day when I found *this episode list* and so I've been able to keep myself straightened round. One other bit, the first season does not have the visual quality that subsequent seasons do. It is still well worth watching and is no fault of the program, rather the quality of the upload.

I'm not going to give a lot of background because others have done a better job. Barbara at Ramblings from an English Garden discusses it *here.* I will say this, I had supposed that the title had something to do with larks (birds) rising over Candleford. Hahahahaha... No, no, Lark Rise is the name of a community and Candleford is the name of a community so it would be as if naming your own city or town and adding the next nearest to it. My town and the next nearest to it don't have quite the same ring, but you get the point.

And the thing of all this is that I have sooooo much to do. I really don't have the time for all this Lark Rise business, yet I'm beyond helping myself. So I've decided to dig out the embroidery and at the very least give my hands something to do while watching.

In other news, I am pondering doing something about the "Give Thanks" cabinet.

Just thinking mind you, but that's better than a totally empty head. Perhaps next time you find me, I'll have acted upon this idea I have to...

Monday, February 7, 2011

Have been grinning that some have thought that yesterday's winter mosaic was the view from my window...I wish! No, John took me out to dinner after he'd been to church and we drove the back way over the ridge so that I might capture some photos of the foothills and beyond to the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

As a reminder, this is the scene that I see beyond my own windows...

I think my neighbor has the prettiest house in the neighborhood and I'm glad that it is my view.

On the other side, I have the pointed firs, which are the boundary trees between my neighbor to the east and myself...

Here's John standing beneath them just before we struck off for dinner.

It's so much fun to see him taking a cell phone call these days without any difficulty whatsoever. When he first got the cell phone, it would ring and he would jump straight into the air and usually drop it before retrieving his call. Actually, that was kind of fun, too. < insert sweet little grin here > Anyway, he's come a long way!

John had to drive some pretty mean roads for me to get my winter mosaic pics. I love that he is willing to suffer my directions and my frustrations and winter driving in general.

After lunch, we did some grocery shopping and then some flea market shopping. John loves shopping at the flea market. In fact, this is the mosaic that didn't make it yesterday.

He's often the last one out and even then he doesn't want to leave. ;> All in all, it was a very pleasant day to be out and about. We must enjoy the time we have even if it isn't July with warm temps and low humidity. There are precious few of those kinds of days, right?